Inconclusive Age Test for Suspect in João Pessoa Hotel Murder

A forensic examination conducted to determine if a teenage suspect in the murder of 33-year-old Washington Rodrigo at a João Pessoa hotel has reached the age of majority has yielded inconclusive results. The expert, Flávio Fabres, explained to TV Cabo Branco on Wednesday, May 29, that dental elements were used to estimate the suspect's age, but a definitive conclusion could not be reached. Fabres noted that the individual is in the transition period between minority and majority, and his advanced physical build, coupled with incompletely exposed dental elements, prevented a clear determination. Consequently, the suspect will continue to be treated as a minor while authorities gather further documentation to officially confirm his age. Documents from family and historical records will be compiled and submitted to the judiciary and Public Prosecutor's Office. The investigating delegate, Diego Garcia, stated that the suspect has been transferred to the juvenile wing of the Civil Police lockup in João Pessoa pending a custody hearing with the capital's Childhood and Youth Prosecutor's Office. The suspect, who arrived in João Pessoa on Tuesday, May 28, after being interviewed in Caicó, Rio Grande do Norte, had presented himself to authorities there on Monday, May 27, with legal representation. He claimed to have committed the crime out of fear of their relationship being exposed, stating that his contact with the victim began through a dating website. According to Garcia, the suspect felt intimidated and threatened by Rodrigo, who allegedly photographed intimate moments and demanded the suspect's phone password. The suspect reportedly used an airsoft replica gun to force Rodrigo to surrender his phone, fearing the exposure of his personal life, especially given his self-proclaimed identity as a theologian. The suspect then allegedly used a hairdryer cord to strangle Washington Rodrigo, claiming his intention was only to incapacitate the victim to escape. Delegate Cristiano Santana reported that the suspect attempted to flee in the victim's car but failed, subsequently leaving the hotel alone and posting on social media as if nothing had happened. Investigators found no narcotics in the hotel room but did discover a surgical glove. An airsoft pistol and handcuffs, identified as key evidence, were seized. The Civil Police also revealed that the teenager has at least 17 prior police reports in Rio Grande do Norte, including incidents involving theft, extortion, stalking, threats, domestic violence, and bodily harm, and had previously been interned in a juvenile facility. Washington Rodrigo was found deceased on Friday, May 24, in a hotel room in Manaíra, João Pessoa, with his hands bound, a cord around his neck, and a cloth over his mouth. The suspect had allegedly used a false name to check into the hotel and left without checking out. The investigation is being led by the João Pessoa Juvenile and Child Police Station. Rodrigo's family stated he worked as an independent driver and had told his mother he was going on a trip to Pipa, Rio Grande do Norte, before he disappeared.